After The Lord of the Rings

[Artifex]

I know it's a little bit early to be asking things like this, but... What will be the next big think after The Lord of the Rings line is over?

Don't get ne wrong: although I was sceptical when LotR was announced and for a while after the first preview pics, now that the sets are out and so are the in-hand pics and reviews, I'm amazed at how cool the line looks. And of course I wish it does well sales-wise and last a long time.

I think LotR will hold strong for many years -- there are three movies to cover and the upcoming two The Hobbit movies. So set-wise, that's A LOT of The Lord of the Ring Lego for the next few years.

But then what? What will come next?

Star Wars sort of became THE sci-fi Lego line. But we had other "original" (non-licenced) sci-fi themes.

So I bet we'll see a couple of non-LotR, maybe even a "new wave" of Kingdoms/Castle sets at some point during LotR run (which I guess will last for at least 4-5 years).

But then I have to ask this again: What will come after The Lord of the Rings Kingdoms/Castle/Fantasy-wise?

I, for one, would love for a Kingdoms II because I really loved Kingoms and that was the line that brought me out of my Dark Age.

But in as much as my heart says that, my mind points to a different thing altogether: a non-fantasy, non-that medieval line.

Yes, I'm betting on something along the lines of Europa.

Europa was a non-produced line that took place in the 18th century Europe. It got something of Castle, Pirates and Western (or better yet, very early-Western). It was also the times of Dracula, Frankenstein and other cool Gothic stuff -- and (why not?) some colonial sets.

A new Europa line could very well be anachronistic, gathering sets from all across the ages (up to the 18th century, maybe with steampunk tech too).

But that's only my two cents on life after The Lord of the Rings.

I think Europa would be a nice Lego theme after LotR.

What do you think? Any thoughts on what will come next?

EDIT: Links to Lego Europa.

* Brikipedia.

* Pic here.

* On Eurobricks.

Edited June 3, 2012 by Artifex

[SirBlake]

It does seem quite early to be speculating on what'll be next. I'm guessing we'll get at least another 2.5 years out of LotR/Hobbit before that's much of a concern.

That said, I absolutely loved Kingdoms. It's what brought me back from the dark ages too. Something about it connected directly with the classic castle vibe. I personally would be just fine with Kingdoms lasting into perpetuity, even if that meant that there were other rotating historic themes, and a handfull of Kindoms sets a year released along side them.

I don't have a ton of interest in the Europa theme, myself. It's an interesting enough time period, but not one that would resonate with my inner LEGO maniac. There has been speculation that the next theme could go ancient mythical mediterranean Greek/Roman. Again, not sure if I would run out and buy all the sets in that theme like I would with more Kingdoms, but it does seem full of possibilities.

[Lego Otaku]

If I were to guess, if LotR/Hobbit does die down after a few years, LEGO may go back to plain old castle theme. Unless there are mini series or spinoff like Clone Wars.

[HumanPackMule]

I would really like to see an ancient history theme instead of some midieval/fantasy theme like we've always gotten.

[Niku]

I bet it would be a Roman/Greek theme.

But I think is too early to begin to speculate.

Long live to LotR.

[Nagyzee]

I think that once LOTR gets established they'll finally reach out to the ancient world which they so far weirdly didn't really. (Apart from adventurers vs. mummies action themes.) My bet is on Toth's Greek/Roman Age of Mythology concept. Hopefully the huge popularity of the Spartan, Roman Soldier and Gladiator collectible minifigs got them thinking. And it wouldn't really clash with LOTR either so the coming years seem like the best opportunity to try a theme like this.

[gedren_y]

TLG has already given us a steampunk-ish theme with Monster Fighters, and considering that they already have plenty of recent parts that fit the classical world, we may see a Greco-Roman theme. I would much prefer to have something even more ancient, like Mesopotamia, but that would be quite a stretch for TLG.

[Joebot]

I think Castle is generally regarded as one of TLC's "evergreen" themes, so I think they'll always have something fantasy-medieval-ish on the market. LOTR will hopefully run a couple of years, but after the second Hobbit movie in December 2013, I bet it fades out pretty quickly, given there won't be any new movies (unless Peter Jackson licenses The Silmarillion!).

My guess would a final big LOTR wave in late 2013 / early 2014, and then TLC will shift back into a homegrown Castle theme.

It's amazing to think that the Big Three Geek Licenses (Star Wars, superheroes, LOTR) are all going on simultaneously. Fun times to be a Lego fan!

[JackJonespaw]

I would love to see a Roman theme, but I think that Lego's covered it through the CMF. In terms of Liscense fantasy - type themes, I would absolutely cry tears of joy if Lego decided to do a Legend of Zelda theme. But, eh, wishful thinking. I should be glad enough that it's made it on CUUSOO.

[TeufelHund]

A classical history theme would be fantastic and should be possible to run alongside LOTOR as the two aren't directly competitive (whereas LOTOR and Castle have a lot in common).

[Tria]

I would love to see a greek theme with a pinch of mythology (equivalent to a fantasy era line...)! (I can easily imagine great minifigs (heroes, soldiers, imaginative creatures) and sets: labyrinth minotaurus and theseus, Odysseus and Trojan Horse, Achilleas, Pegasus, castle of Troy, Great Alexander and Persians (Siege of Babylon, Greek-macedonian Phalanx with Sarissa), Spartans and Thermopylae, Athens Acropolis, Hoplitae and Trieremes, Mountain Olympus and Olympian Gods, Hercules and his achievements, Delfoi Oracle, Jason and the Argonauts, Medousa)

In fact, I found it really bizarre that we havent gotten any roman-greek theme (beside the awesome minifigs) all these years given the fact that most of the products about ancient Greece and Mythology are successful (films or video games)...

Age of Empires, Troy, 300, Clash of Titans etc...

Another advantage is that this line could easily run parallel to LOTR.

Of course, the fact I am greek has nothing to do about it...

Alternative?

A Game of thrones series would also be awesome...

Of course a new kingdoms line or a fantasy era line would also draw my interest...

[purpleparadox]

@Tria: I'm almost positive a Game of Thrones series will, unfortunately, never happen. TLG's core consumer group is way too young for a lot of content in that series. It'd be sweet though!

[fyrmedhatt]

I'm all for a Roman/Greek theme, it would have the right mixture of cool historical figures and architecture, with a rich mythology full of monsters and other fantasy creatures. Now there will supposedly be a second Percy Jackson movie despite how terrible the first one was, so I guess if the movies catch on we might see that being taken on as a license. Either way it would be a new take on the typical castle themes.

[Haltiamieli]

@Tria: I'm almost positive a Game of Thrones series will, unfortunately, never happen. TLG's core consumer group is way too young for a lot of content in that series. It'd be sweet though!

I suppose Game of Thrones license is more or less as likely as Girls Gone Wild license (the latter has much less violence, after all!).

I think some sort of mythology theme is a real possibility, though probably quite removed from any actual myths and history, like Lego themes tend to be. It could probably start already during LotR run, after it has been given a headstart to come to its own this year. After LotR I'm expecting the return of "normal" Castle themes with new factions etc. Either a very high fantasy storyline (cf. Fantasy Era) or a very low fantasy line (cf. Kingdoms), to differentiate it from LotR.

[purpleparadox]

I'm all for a Roman/Greek theme, it would have the right mixture of cool historical figures and architecture, with a rich mythology full of monsters and other fantasy creatures. Now there will supposedly be a second Percy Jackson movie despite how terrible the first one was, so I guess if the movies catch on we might see that being taken on as a license. Either way it would be a new take on the typical castle themes.

Another Percy Jackson movie?!? Please, no! That movie was one of the biggest book-to-movie-transitions I've ever watched, it was a huge letdown! Although I guess the sets would make good fantasy parts packs.

[HumanPackMule]

I suppose Game of Thrones license is more or less as likely as Girls Gone Wild license (the latter has much less violence, after all!).

Yeah, anyone remember that Game of Thrones spoof that SNL did a few weeks ago?

[Percabeth]

Another Percy Jackson movie?!? Please, no! That movie was one of the biggest book-to-movie-transitions I've ever watched, it was a huge letdown! Although I guess the sets would make good fantasy parts packs.

Am I the only one that liked that movie???? My username

But anyways, I don't ever see Lego getting the liscense, as I've never seen them do a set based on a FOX movie. HOWEVER, Disney has the rights to the books, and we've seen plenty of Disney sets. If they really wanted to fight a legal battle, then they could have Book-Based sets. I can only hope

[jedi1984]

I think that they're not going to return to plain classic castle, but if LOTR sells well (and I don't think it can go in other ways) the castle line will be more fantasy-era related than ever. I mean it will be a non licenesed continuation of the LOTR line with less fantasy than LOTR but more than classic castle.

For greeks, romans and so on I think they could be released as stand alone lines (as Atlantis was)

[natesroom]

I was talking to my Lego store manager and they said that so far LOTR is selling like wildfire and they see it probably lasting 3+ years. On a side not they also said Monster fighters and LOTR are outselling everything in the store.

[natelite]

after LotR i think they should go for a videogame license. i like to see them fighting MB for world of warcraft and also starcraft. i think starcraft might be a good replacement for sw too.

the plentiful characters and vehicles and buildings to build would make the theme a classic very quickly. just not sure why they didn't go for it when it was suggested.

[purpleparadox]

after LotR i think they should go for a videogame license. i like to see them fighting MB for world of warcraft and also starcraft. i think starcraft might be a good replacement for sw too.

the plentiful characters and vehicles and buildings to build would make the theme a classic very quickly. just not sure why they didn't go for it when it was suggested.

No. Starcraft and World of Warcraft may be huge in the gaming communities (maybe not, I don't know), but they would never be more popular than SW and LOTR in the Lego communities. Star Wars is a HUGE Lego theme! It's one of the "evergreen" themes. Easily one of the most popular, and it's one that brought many people back into Lego. LOTR is well on it's way down that road as well. Many people came back to the Lego hobby after hearing about it. I know there would be a lot of angry FOLs if Lego replaced those two themes with the ones you suggested.

[Piranha]

Not after, I am hoping for "during".

Any new historical theme would be greatly welcomed, Greeks, Romans, Western etc.

Of course I am also hoping we get new/more Kingdoms sets involving Forestmen and Falcon Knights.

[Vindicare]

after LotR i think they should go for a videogame license. i like to see them fighting MB for world of warcraft and also starcraft. i think starcraft might be a good replacement for sw too.

the plentiful characters and vehicles and buildings to build would make the theme a classic very quickly. just not sure why they didn't go for it when it was suggested.

Starcraft would be AWESOME! It would fit well with the way they handle SW, vehicles. I would definitely buy everything they put out.

[Blondie-Wan]

No. Starcraft and World of Warcraft may be huge in the gaming communities (maybe not, I don't know), but they would never be more popular than SW and LOTR in the Lego communities. Star Wars is a HUGE Lego theme! It's one of the "evergreen" themes. Easily one of the most popular, and it's one that brought many people back into Lego. LOTR is well on it's way down that road as well. Many people came back to the Lego hobby after hearing about it. I know there would be a lot of angry FOLs if Lego replaced those two themes with the ones you suggested.

I concur. Additionally, I doubt TLG would be interested in Blizzard's franchises even if they didn't have Star Wars; the audiences for those skew a bit older than the market TLG aims for (Star Wars of course also has plenty of adult fans, but it's really more of an "all ages" franchise than StarCraft or WarCraft).